“I’ll help.”
They worked quickly together. She was aware of him standing next to her, taking the rinsed dishes and putting them in the ancient dishwasher. She wiped down the counters, then wondered how she was going to escape without having to talk. Something that turned out not to be a problem, she thought helplessly, as he waited until she’d rinsed and dried her hands before putting his hands on her shoulders and turning her to face him.
She’d thought he’d try to ask her what was wrong, or, being the kind of man he was, demand that she tell him. Instead, he leaned in and lightly kissed her.
She could have withstood a verbal assault, she thought, feeling the soft brush of his mouth on hers. If he’d insisted, she would have had righteous indignation on her side. But the gentle pressure was irresistible, as was the warmth of his fingers. He straightened and reached up to tug on one of her braids.
“You’re the only woman I know who wears her hair like this.”
“I know it’s not sophisticated,” she began, then wanted to slap herself for admitting that.
“I like it, goat girl.” His dark eyes stared into hers. “I like you.”
Enough to give up his Fool’s Gold housing empire? Enough to tell Nina to go away? Enough to admit a sensible wife was a really stupid idea?
“If you could have anything in the world,” she said. “Anything. Money, fame, sixteen children who adored you, what would it be?”
He hesitated. “Can I get back to you?”
“Sure. But if you asked me that question, I would have an answer. I want the ranch. I want to live here for the rest of my life. I want this to be my home.”
He dropped his hands to his sides. He didn’t back away, but he didn’t have to. His actions were enough.
* * *
ANNABELLE LAID THE OPEN BOOKS on the dirt floor. Charlie had been by early and set up several powerful portable lights, illuminating the uneven cave walls. Heidi shivered and zipped up her jacket.
This deep in the mountains, caves were a constant fifty degrees. The air had a faint, musty quality to it, as if there wasn’t enough circulation.
“You cold?” Annabelle asked.
“No. I’ve never been this far back in the caves. It’s a little creepy.” It was also giving her a bit of a headache.
“Don’t worry,” Annabelle told her. “I have maps and a compass. We won’t get lost.” She pulled two large plastic bags out of her backpack and opened them. “The paint is a special blend. I found the recipe online. I took what you bought and mixed it with a few ground-up, dried leaves and herbs. Amazingly, my college studies didn’t cover how to fake cave paintings. When this dries, it will look old. The trick is to paint in the style of the Máa-zib women.”
She pointed to the books she’d brought. “These pictures are samples to give you an idea. We don’t want to duplicate them exactly. That’s a huge red flag.”
“Do you think we’re going to fool anyone?” Heidi asked, taking the brush Annabelle offered.
“Not for long, but this is all about buying time. Unless you’ve changed your mind?”
Heidi shook her head. “I appreciate you helping me with this. If it all goes badly, I’ll swear it was my idea alone.”
“So only you go to prison?” Annabelle asked. “That’s so nice. Thank you. I’m thinking the library board wouldn’t approve of my actions right now.”
“You don’t think they’d be impressed with your skill and ingenuity?” Heidi asked.
“I doubt they’d see it that way.”
Annabelle studied the photograph of the drawing. Heidi moved next to her.
“The paintings tell a story,” she said. “We don’t want to get that elaborate. See this one. It’s about surviving a difficult winter, and here’s a series about a gathering. Probably to celebrate the harvest.”
She flipped the page, and they stared at a stick figure with an obvious erection. “I’m not sure what this one is about, but we’ll skip over it.”
Heidi grinned. “You have to admire their attitude.”
“Use men for sex, then send them on their way? It’s a sensible plan. Men are nothing but trouble.”
She turned a few more pages. “We’ll do best with recreating a nature scene, I think. Less challenging for us, and more confusing for anyone who sees them.”
“So, trees on the mountain and maybe a basket?”
“Perfect,” Annabelle said, handing her a stick with a fuzzy willow bud at the end.
“This is…”
“Your paintbrush.” Annabelle smiled. “The women of the Máa-zib tribe couldn’t trot off to a craft store when they felt the need to be creative.”
“Good point.”
Summer Days (Fool's Gold #7)
Susan Mallery's books
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- Just One Kiss
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